Improvement in coffin-shields



UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFIGE.

ALTON H. MOOERS, OF NORTH RIDGEVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT INCOFFlN-SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,936, dated April 2,1878; application filed February 14, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALTON H. Moonns, of North Ridgeville, in the countyof Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and ImprovdOoffin-Shield; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and complete description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of the same.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coffin-shield andcoffin. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is anunder-side view of the shield and coffin.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views. a

The purpose of this invention is to prevent body-Snatchers from robbinga grave of the buried corpse; and it consists of a metallic case orshield placed on the casket containing the dead. Said shield is securedin the ground, and also to the coffin, by anchors or arms extendinglaterally from the sides of the coffin, and others extending inwardunder the coffin, to prevent the shield from being lifted therefrom.

A further and more detailed description of the invention issubstantially as follows:

The shield or case alluded to is represented at A in the drawings, andis constructed of sheet metal or of thin cast metal of a shape and sizeto completely inclose the coffin, as shown in the drawings, in which Bis the coffin.

From around the lower edge of the shield projects a flange, G, to theunder side of which are pivoted arms D, which may be more or less innumber as the size of the coffin may require. E is a plank, upon whichthe shield stands, and also the coffin.

The manner of using the above-described shield for the purpose specifiedis as follows: On the bottom of the grave is laid the plank or plate ofmetal or stone E, and thereon is deposited the coffin, over which islaid the shield, with the flanges resting upon the plank, and to whichit may be secured by screws or spikes driven through the flanges intothe plank or plate. The arms D, on placing the shield over the coffin,are adjusted lengthwise of the flange, as shown at a in Fig. 3, so thatthey may be out of the way on lowering the shield into the grave, andwhen the shield is fastened to the plank may be drawn under the coffin,as indicated by the dotted lines o, by means of a cord attached to thefree end thereof. This disposition of the arms will prev out he shieldfrom being lifted from off the coffin, though it may not have beensecured to the plate; hence access cannot be had thereto for removingthe corpse. M

For further security, some of the arms may be extended outward into thesides of the grave, as shown at D in Fig. 2 and indicated by the dottedlines D in Fig. 3. This adjustment of the arms is also effected by acord, whereby they may be pulled from under the flange. The arms beingcovered by the earth by which the grave is filled, and covering theflange, will most effectually prevent access to the coffin for theremoval of the dead, which cannot be accomplished without great laborand more time than grave-robbers have to spend; hence the dead areeflectually protected from their hands, as aforesaid.

I am aware that shields have been heretofore used to cover coffins andform air-tight protectors; butnone have yet been constructed to beanchored in the ground, so as to prevent the hurried removal of thecorpse by illicit opening of the grave. I therefore do not claim simplya shield as such; but' What I claim as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The metal shield A, provided with a' flange, O, and arms D, incombination with a coffin, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

ALTON H. MOOERS.

Witnesses:

W. F. OLAss, DAVID Z. HERR.

